Save our Greenbelt - stop outdated housing targets
It was good to be in Epsom supporting the protest this weekend.
Outdated ONS figures and the Conservatives’ housing targets are forcing Epsom & Ewell to consider building on the Greenbelt, as in Mole Valley DC.
None of us want this - local residents want the Government to listen to the people and protect our Greenbelt!
Epsom Lib Dems are against building on the Greenbelt.
In Epsom & Ewell, Liberal Democrat councillors have consistently argued that old ONS data is being used to determine the number of houses required but this is falling on the deaf ears of this Conservative Government. If up to date data was used, fewer houses would need to be built in Epsom & Ewell. Not only is Epsom & Ewell Borough Council being forced to use old data, but we know that despite Conservative government promises to allow local Councils to decide what is best for their area and to exclude the Greenbelt if they wish, this is simply not the case!
Local authorities are being forced to build on the Greenbelt because of successive and cynical Conservative policies.
In neighbouring Mole Valley (where Ashtead and Leatherhead form part of the new constituency), the Liberal Democrat run council have managed to save 99.3% of the Greenbelt.
This is in the face of your Conservative Government which is letting residents down.
This Government has not delivered on the promise it made last year to let local Councils decide what is best for their area.
Last week Mole Valley Liberal Democrat councillors were faced with a stark choice between either continuing with the Local Plan as it is with 0.7% in the Greenbelt or to remove the Greenbelt sites which could put the local plan back another year and expose more Greenbelt sites to planning applications from developers. Simultaneously the Conservative housing minister Lee Rowley sent them a letter informing them they must not withdraw the plan or delay further. An impossible decision!
The Conservatives are deaf to local communities and their housing needs. It’s time for them to go!